Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Pope slams unfettered capitalism: "A New Tyranny"

"I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has
been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from
being confined and from clinging to its own security."

"(Reuters) - Pope Francis called for renewal of the Roman Catholic
Church and attacked unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny", urging
global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality in the first
major work he has authored alone as pontiff. The 84-page document, known as an apostolic exhortation, amounted to
an official platform for his papacy, building on views he has aired in
sermons and remarks since he became the first non-European pontiff in
1,300 years in March. In it, Francis went further than previous comments criticizing the
global economic system, attacking the "idolatry of money" and beseeching
politicians to guarantee all citizens "dignified work, education and
healthcare".

He also called on rich people to share their wealth. "Just as the
commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to
safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt
not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills,"
Francis wrote in the document issued on Tuesday. "How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless
person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses 2
points?" The pope said renewal of the Church could not be put off and said the
Vatican and its entrenched hierarchy "also need to hear the call to
pastoral conversion"."